Improvement in processes and apparatus for separating fats and oils from seeds



E. S. HUTCHINSON. VImprovement in Process and Apparatus for Separating Fats and Oils from Seeds, Grains, etc.

Patented April 2,1872.

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ELIAS SMITH HUTOHINSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FATS AND OILS FROM SEEDS,

GRAINS, itc.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. i25,300, dated April 2, 1872.

Specification of an Improved Process and VApparatus for Using Bisulphide of Carbon in Extracting Oily, Fatty, Resinous, or other Matter Soluble therein, invented by ELLAs SMITH HUTGHINSON, of the city and county of Baltimore, State of Maryland.

i Many processes for using hydrocarbons, both in liquid and vaporous states, for the purpose of extracting oils, Src., have been described and patented, as the records of the Patent Office show. By many experiments I find that bisulphide of carbon is a much safer and more etlicient agent, owing chieiiy to its low boilingpoint and ease of condensation, and its safety and ease in handling (owing to its great specific gravity,) almost non-explosiveness, and low heat evolved in case of fire. There are many other economies in its use over the hydrocarbon class which are important in practicesuch as storage and manufacture-and, when produced chemically pure, which is easily effected, the extracts obtained by its use are free of all chemical residuum, which is not the case with hydrocarbons, as they always leave a residuum in evaporation, which precludes their use in obtaining a certain grade of extracts.

The drawing is a sectional elevation of a portion of an apparatus illustrating the use of four treating-vats with one separating apparatus.

A A are vats, of which any number maybe used, supported, if desired, by trunnions E E, to enable them to be partially revolved or upset, for discharging the contents. The cover H is bolted onto the vat, and may be removed at each discharge, as it would be required in treating certain materials; or it may have a hand-hole for iilling and discharging its contents when other material is treated. The outlet D is for the escape of vapor, and may be taken out at top of the vat, as shown, or at any convenient point, and connects with a condenser, or may connect with another vat of similar construction, in order to partially treat the contents of such vat by condensing the vapor in any convenient manner. A pipe, O, connects with the vat at any convenient point, but preferably near its top, to introduce the bisulphide of carbon. A steanrchamber, a, having a steam-inlet, b, and a condensed-steam outlet, c, is shown at the bottom of the vat A 5 or any other manner of heating the contents of vatA also, by a pump, g, connects with the heater B. This may be of any form convenient for heating the contents. It is here shown of a cylindrical and tubular form, having-steam passages through it, with an inlet, l, and an outlet, k,- and in such form the lexhaust from an engine may be used, which, for some reasons, would be preferred to any other manner of heating, as there would be no danger of accumulating too much pressure by overheating. The heater B may have a glass gauge to indicate the liquid level in the heater, and a thermometer to indicate the temperature, which will show the amount of pressure also. The pipe @connects the heater B with the vat A and conducts heated vapors to thoroughly dry the contents of the vat A. The heater B has a discharge for the oil at t', and also may have an inlet for steam, as shown at z, to drive oft' the last traces of chemical remaining in the oil, which can, of course, only be used in a certain class of oils. In the vapor-pipe ofthe vat A is provided a shut-off, a'.

Operation.

I prefer to proceed as follows: The vat A having its upper compartment filled with the material to be treated, bisulphide of carbon is admitted by pipe O until the contents are submerged. Now the flow is shut oft' and the chemical rapidly va-porized by admitting steam to the chamber a. The oily, fatty, resinous, or other matter soluble inthe chemical will be extracted from the other contents. The operation is continued until the solution of bisulphide of carbon and oil, grease, resinous, or other matter is contained in the lower compartment below the perforated diaphragm. Then the valve d is opened,and it is discharged into the receiver f, and valve d is closed. Then the valve x in the vapor-pipe D is closed, and valve in pipe c is opened, and heated vapors are admitted to the contents of the vat A until, it may be, the same pressure exists in the vat A as in heater B. Then valve :t is opened, which, by relieving the pressure, will allow all the moisture in the vat A to be vaporized at atmospheric pressure, and the contents willbe left dry. Vat A may then be dumped and refilled and the operation continued. The heater B may, of course, be connected with any number of treatin g-vats. The receiver f may be of such size and arranged so as to connect With any number of treating-vats. The pump g supplies from the receiver f to the heater B, so as to sustain a nearly-uniform iiuid-level. The heater B will, of course, accumulate a quantity of oil, grease, or other soluble matter. It Will be necessary to iiow oft this into a suitable receptacle having a condenser attached, as the chemical contained in the oil or other soluble matter Will be at once vaporized at at mospheric pressure.

It is apparent that this process, as Well as the construction and arrangement of apparatus, may be much varied. A For instance, the vat A may be only partially iilled with bisulphide of carbon, and, when heated, the vapor made to permeate the mass, thus extracting the soluble matter. This is a much slower process. Or tlieuse of the heater B, as arranged, may be dispensed with and all the bisulphide of carbon vaporized from the extract in the vessel A, or some other auxiliary apparatus, and the heat applied to the vessel A until the contained mass is dried, the bisulphide oi' carbon havin g all been vaporized, or ajet of steam or air forced through for the same purpose.

My process and apparatus are also very valuable for cleansing and purifying fur, feathers, hair, or other material containing any mat-ter soluble in bisulphide of carbon; also, for purifyin g the oil itself.

Claims.

I claim as my invention- I. The employment of the vapor of bisulphide of carbon, either by itself or in combination With other agents, in the extraction of oily, fatty, resinous, or other matter soluble therein.

2. The employment of superheated vapor of or heated liquid bisulphide of carbon, either by itself or in combination with any other agent, in the extraction oi' oily, fatty, resinous, or other matter soluble therein.

3. The employment of heated or superheated vapor of bisulphide of carbon or other chemical solvent, either by itself or in combination with another agent, in the process of extracting oily or other soluble matters, for the purpose of drying the material from which the soluble matter has been extracted.

4. In an apparatus for separating oily, fatty, resinous, or other matter by a chemical solvent, the combination of a heater or separator treating vat or vats so arranged that the chemical may be employed to dry or assist in drying the material treated from the chemical remaining therein, substantially as herein described.

5. The treating-vat A, constructed With a heating-chamber, a, in its lower part, as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of one or more treatingva-ts A, a receiver, j', a pump, g, and a heater or separator, B, provided with suitable connections and arranged for joint operation, substantially as herein described.

To the above specification I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of November, 1871.

ELIAS SMITH HUTGHINSON.

Witnesses Ocrnvrus KNIGHT, WALTER ALLEN. 

